Frightened vs Frightening: Which One Is The Correct One?

Are you confused about the difference between “frightened” and “frightening”? These two words are often used interchangeably, but they actually have distinct meanings. In this article, we’ll explore the definitions of each word and provide examples of how to use them correctly.

Let’s clarify the meanings of each word. “Frightened” is an adjective that describes a feeling of fear or anxiety. It is often used to describe a person who is scared or nervous. For example, “The frightened child clung to her mother’s leg.” On the other hand, “frightening” is an adjective that describes something that causes fear or alarm. It is often used to describe a situation or object that is scary. For example, “The horror movie was too frightening for me to watch.”

It’s important to use these words correctly in order to convey your intended meaning. Mixing up “frightened” and “frightening” can lead to confusion or misinterpretation. Throughout the rest of this article, we’ll explore some common usage errors and provide tips for using these words effectively.

Define Frightened

Frightened is an adjective that describes a feeling of fear or anxiety caused by a perceived threat or danger. It is a state of being scared or afraid, often accompanied by physical reactions such as trembling, sweating, and increased heart rate. People can become frightened by various stimuli, such as loud noises, unexpected events, or the presence of something they perceive as dangerous or threatening.

Define Frightening

Frightening is an adjective that describes something that is causing fear or anxiety in others. It is an attribute of an object, situation, or person that is perceived as dangerous or threatening, and that can trigger a fear response. Frightening things can vary from person to person, as people have different fears and phobias. For example, some people may find spiders frightening, while others may not be bothered by them at all.

It is important to note that while frightened and frightening are related, they are not the same thing. Frightened is a state of being, while frightening is an attribute of something that is causing fear in others. In other words, frightened is the feeling, while frightening is the cause of that feeling.

How To Properly Use The Words In A Sentence

When it comes to writing, it is important to use the correct word to convey your intended meaning. This is especially true for words that are similar in spelling and pronunciation, such as “frightened” and “frightening”. In this section, we will discuss how to properly use these words in a sentence.

How To Use “Frightened” In A Sentence

The word “frightened” is an adjective that describes someone who is feeling fear or apprehension. It can also be used as a verb, meaning to cause someone to feel fear or apprehension.

Here are some examples of how to use “frightened” in a sentence:

• She was frightened by the loud noise.
• The children were frightened of the dark.
• The movie was so frightening that it left me feeling frightened for days.

As you can see from these examples, “frightened” is used to describe a person’s emotional state or reaction to something.

How To Use “Frightening” In A Sentence

The word “frightening” is also an adjective, but it describes something that is causing fear or apprehension. It can be used to describe a person, situation, or thing.

Here are some examples of how to use “frightening” in a sentence:

• The horror movie was too frightening for me to watch.
• There was a frightening amount of traffic on the highway.
• The idea of being stranded in the wilderness was frightening to the hikers.

As you can see from these examples, “frightening” is used to describe something that is causing fear or apprehension in others.

It is important to note that while “frightened” and “frightening” are similar in meaning, they are used in different ways. “Frightened” describes a person’s emotional state, while “frightening” describes something that is causing fear or apprehension. By using these words correctly, you can ensure that your writing is clear and effective.

More Examples Of Frightened & Frightening Used In Sentences

In this section, we will explore more examples of how to use the words “frightened” and “frightening” in sentences. These examples will help you gain a better understanding of the proper usage of the words and how they can be used to convey different meanings.

Examples Of Using “Frightened” In A Sentence

• She was frightened by the loud noise.
• The children were frightened by the thunderstorm.
• He was so frightened that he couldn’t move.
• She was frightened to go out alone at night.
• The dog was frightened of the vacuum cleaner.
• He was frightened by the horror movie.
• She was frightened of spiders.
• The loud explosion frightened the birds away.
• He was frightened by the sudden appearance of the ghost.
• She was frightened by the strange man lurking in the alley.

As you can see from these examples, “frightened” is used to describe a feeling of fear or being scared. It is often used to describe a person who is afraid of something or someone.

Examples Of Using “Frightening” In A Sentence

• The horror movie was very frightening.
• The rollercoaster ride was frightening.
• The thought of losing her job was frightening.
• The haunted house was too frightening for some people.
• The news of the impending storm was frightening.
• The sound of the howling wind was frightening.
• The idea of being lost in the woods was frightening.
• The thought of being stranded in the middle of the ocean was frightening.
• The prospect of facing her fears was frightening.
• The dark alley was frightening to walk through at night.

“Frightening” is used to describe things that cause fear or are scary. It is often used to describe situations, events, or things that are perceived as dangerous or threatening.

By using these examples, you can gain a better understanding of the proper usage of “frightened” and “frightening” in sentences. Whether you are writing a story or simply trying to convey a feeling of fear, these words can be used to great effect.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When it comes to using the words frightened and frightening, many people tend to interchange them without realizing that they have different meanings. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Using Frightened When You Mean Frightening

One common mistake is using frightened instead of frightening when you want to describe something that causes fear. Frightened is an adjective that describes a person who is feeling fear or anxiety. On the other hand, frightening is an adjective that describes something that causes fear or anxiety. For example:

Incorrect Usage	Correct Usage
That horror movie was so frightened!	That horror movie was so frightening!
The haunted house was too frightened for me to enter.	The haunted house was too frightening for me to enter.

Using Frightening When You Mean Frightened

Another common mistake is using frightening instead of frightened when you want to describe a person who is feeling fear or anxiety. Frightening is an adjective that describes something that causes fear or anxiety, while frightened is an adjective that describes a person who is feeling fear or anxiety. For example:

Incorrect Usage	Correct Usage
The roller coaster was so frightened, I couldn’t go on it.	The roller coaster was so frightening, I couldn’t go on it.
The scary movie left me feeling frightening.	The scary movie left me feeling frightened.

Using Frightened As A Verb

Finally, some people make the mistake of using frightened as a verb, when it is actually an adjective. To describe the action of causing someone to feel fear or anxiety, use the verb frighten instead. For example:

Incorrect Usage	Correct Usage
The loud noise frightened me.	The loud noise scared/frightened me.
She was frightened by the spider.	The spider frightened her.

Tips To Avoid These Mistakes

To avoid making these common mistakes, it’s important to understand the difference between frightened and frightening. Remember that frightened describes a person who is feeling fear or anxiety, while frightening describes something that causes fear or anxiety. Additionally, if you’re not sure which word to use, try substituting the word scared instead. If it makes sense, then you should use frightened. If not, then you should use frightening.

Context Matters

When it comes to using the words frightened and frightening, context plays a crucial role in determining which one to use. Depending on the context in which they are used, the meaning of the sentence can change significantly. Therefore, it is essential to understand the context in which these words are used to use them correctly.

Examples Of Different Contexts And How The Choice Between Frightened And Frightening Might Change:

Context	Example Sentence	Correct word choice
Describing a person’s emotion	He looked __________ when he saw the spider.	frightened
Describing a horror movie	The movie was __________.	frightening
Describing a haunted house	The house had a __________ atmosphere.	frightening
Talking about a fear of heights	I am __________ of heights.	frightened

As you can see from the examples above, the choice between frightened and frightening can vary depending on the context of the sentence. When describing a person’s emotion, the correct word choice would be frightened, as it describes the person’s feeling of fear. On the other hand, when describing a horror movie or a haunted house, the correct word choice would be frightening, as it describes the scary or terrifying nature of the movie or the house.

Similarly, when talking about a fear of heights, the correct word choice would be frightened, as it describes the person’s feeling of fear. It is important to note that using the wrong word in these contexts can change the meaning of the sentence entirely, leading to confusion and miscommunication.

In conclusion, the choice between frightened and frightening is context-dependent. Understanding the context in which these words are used is crucial in using them correctly and conveying the intended meaning of the sentence.

Exceptions To The Rules

While there are general rules for using frightened and frightening, there are exceptions to these rules that are important to note. Here are some situations where the rules may not apply:

1. Contextual Usage

In some contexts, the use of frightened and frightening can be subjective and depend on the interpretation of the speaker or writer. For example, in a horror movie, a character may say “I am frightened” to express their fear, even though grammatically it would be correct to say “I am frightening.” This is because the context of the situation allows for the use of the word frightened to convey the character’s emotion.

2. Colloquial Usage

In informal or colloquial speech, people may use frightened and frightening interchangeably without adhering to the rules of grammar. For example, someone may say “That movie was so frightening!” instead of “That movie was so frightening to me!” This usage is acceptable in casual conversation, but not in formal writing.

3. Regional Differences

Regional differences in language can also affect the use of frightened and frightening. For example, in British English, the word frightening is more commonly used than frightened, while in American English, the opposite is true. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the regional differences when using these words.

4. Idiomatic Expressions

There are some idiomatic expressions that use frightened and frightening in ways that do not follow the general rules. For example, the phrase “frightened out of one’s wits” means to be extremely scared, even though the correct usage would be “frightening out of one’s wits.” Similarly, the expression “frightening the life out of someone” means to scare someone very badly, even though the correct usage would be “frightening someone’s life out.”

Overall, while there are rules for using frightened and frightening, it is important to be aware of the exceptions to these rules in order to use these words correctly in different contexts.

Practice Exercises

To improve your understanding and use of frightened and frightening in sentences, here are some practice exercises:

Exercise 1: Fill In The Blank

Choose the correct word (frightened or frightening) to fill in the blank in each sentence:

1. The horror movie was too __________ for me to watch.
2. The loud thunder made the dog __________.
3. She felt __________ when she heard the news.
4. The roller coaster was __________, but also fun.

Answer Key:

1. The horror movie was too frightening for me to watch.
2. The loud thunder made the dog frightened.
3. She felt frightened when she heard the news.
4. The roller coaster was frightening, but also fun.

Exercise 2: Identify The Correct Word

Read each sentence and choose the correct word (frightened or frightening) to complete the sentence:

1. The __________ child clung to his mother’s leg.
2. The __________ sound of the door slamming made her jump.
3. He tried to be brave, but the __________ situation made him shake.
4. The __________ clown made the children laugh.

Answer Key:

1. The frightened child clung to his mother’s leg.
2. The frightening sound of the door slamming made her jump.
3. He tried to be brave, but the frightening situation made him shake.
4. The frightening clown made the children laugh.

By practicing these exercises, you can improve your understanding and use of frightened and frightening in sentences. Remember, frightened is the past tense of frighten and describes how someone feels, while frightening is an adjective that describes something that causes fear.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proper use of “frightened” and “frightening” is essential for effective communication. The two words may seem similar, but they have different meanings and functions in a sentence.

Key Takeaways

• “Frightened” is an adjective that describes a person who feels fear or is scared.
• “Frightening” is an adjective that describes something that causes fear or is scary.
• Using “frightened” instead of “frightening” can change the meaning of a sentence.
• It is important to use the correct form of the word depending on the context and intended meaning.

Remembering these key takeaways can help you avoid common mistakes and improve your writing and speaking skills.

Continuing Learning

Learning about grammar and language use is an ongoing process, and there is always more to discover. There are many resources available online and offline to help you improve your language skills, including books, courses, and online tutorials.

By continuing to learn and practice, you can become more confident and effective in your communication, and avoid common mistakes like confusing “frightened” and “frightening”.